Publication focuses on first school for children with intellectual disabilities in the United States

As part of its Dialogues on disABILITY Speaker Series, the Museum of disABILITY History will host author Diana Katovitch who will conduct a free presentation on Saturday, September 9, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at the Museum of disABILITY History, 3826 Main Street, Buffalo. Katovitch will focus on her book, Beautiful Children: The Story of the Elm Hill School and Home for Feebleminded Children and Youth. The book is published by the Museum of disABILITY History.

The Elm Hill School was the first school for children with intellectual disabilities in the United States, founded in 1848 in Barre, Massachusetts. During the discussion, Katovitch will review her research, the progressive nature of early special education and the importance of disability history. 

Diana “Dee” Katovitch is the coordinator of the Peer2Peer Project and assistant director of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education. She worked for 21 years as a special education teacher in New York state public schools. What began as a personal research project on post-secondary education for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities resulted in her book, The Power to Spring Up: Postsecondary Education Opportunities for Students with Significant Disabilities (Woodbine House, 2009). She is a graduate of Syracuse University (B.S. School of Education ’90; Certificate of Advanced Study in Disability Studies, ’14) and SUNY Cortland (M.S. in Reading ‘95).

The presentation is ideal for those with an interest in the history of special education, as well as for parents, college students, college/university staff and K through 12 teachers. The softcover book costs $9.95 and will be for sale at the event. 

Event registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, email David Mack-Hardiman at dmack@people-inc.org or call 716.629.3626.

Established in 1998, the Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is the only one of its kind in the United States and is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities. Located in Buffalo, NY, the Museum’s exhibits, collections, publications, archives and educational programs create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery.